After some well‑earned downtime, we caught up with Panthers Triathlon Club athlete John Hughes, who recently achieved the dream result – winning his age group at the Ironman World Championships in Kona. We spoke to John about the race, the preparation, and what wisdom he’d pass on to anyone with their sights set on the Big Island.
Q: Heading into Kona, how confident were you feeling after your qualification at Busselton?
A: After my qualification race at Busselton, I felt confident I could deliver a strong performance. I’d raced Kona four times previously, so I knew the course and the conditions well. That experience gave me a real sense of calm going in.
Q: Can you talk us through the moment you realised you were in the lead?
A: I knew off the bike I was 13 minutes behind the leader. I got several splits along Ali’i Drive and could see I was closing the gap. The big moment came on the Queen K when my wife told me I was leading and had a decent buffer. I was elated, but I had to stay composed. At that point in the race, exhaustion can undo everything if you lose focus.
Q: You qualified at Busselton – what made that race special for you?
A: Busso was beautiful, and it’s where I achieved one of my major Ironman goals: going sub‑9 as an over‑50 athlete. That meant a lot to me.
Q: What did your training look like in the lead‑up to Kona?
A: A typical week was around 20–25 hours of swim, bike, run and gym. My coach built a brilliant program that accounted for my age and ability – he absolutely nailed it. People often talk about sacrifices, but for me, I’m so passionate about the sport that even the tough days felt like a privilege. I had huge gratitude for everyone supporting me.
Q: Who made up your support team for this campaign?
A: My team was the backbone of the entire journey.
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My coach was exceptional.
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My wife was incredible – her love, support and organisation were second to none.
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My training partners buffered me on the hard days, and one in particular supported me through most of the journey.
I couldn’t thank them enough.
Q: Looking back, would you change anything about your preparation?
A: Not a thing. I’d learnt so much from previous Kona experiences. The only thing I’d change, looking back at earlier years, is my perspective. The journey to Kona is a spiritual revelation. Don’t focus too much on the finish line. Be grateful for every single day you get to train and live that journey.
Q: What’s next for you after this incredible achievement?
A: After some time off, my team and I will regroup and plan an attack on the 70.3 World Championship. But that might be a little while away, we’ve got plenty of celebrating to do with friends back home in Australia after this one!
A huge congratulations to John on this achievement!
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